Pedernales River level at Johnson City
Texas · Flood watch
Measured at USGS 08153500 — Pedernales Rv nr Johnson City, TX · NWS forecast point JOCT2
Reading taken · as of 1 hour ago
Well below normal for the date
At 4.6 CFS, this gauge is running 19% of normal for mid-September — below the 24 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 87 years of record (1939–2026). The stage is 2.8 ft below the NWS action stage of 13.0 ft.
Sponsor Pedernales River
One exclusive sponsor per river, on every gauge page for it.
Cancel anytime · Questions?
Flood stages at Johnson City
National Weather Service categories for gauge JOCT2, WFO EWX. Impact wording is the NWS's own, verbatim.
-
Major flood 19.0 ft
- 19.0 ft Major flooding makes secondary and primary roads below Stonewall to Lake Travis very dangerous. Low park areas downstream in Pedernales Falls State Park flood.
- 22.0 ft Secondary roads, bridges and crossings are dangerously flooded near the Pedernales River. Low areas of Pedernales Falls State Park are flooded and dangerous. Fencing and roads are damaged or destroyed in the flood plain.
- 25.0 ft Extensive damage occurs to roads, bridges, fences and signs in the flood plain below Stonewall to Lake Travis. Lower sections of Pedernales Falls State Park flood. Roads and low bridges near the river are flooded and dangerous to motorists. Exceeds USGS 1:10 year flood.
- 28.0 ft Secondary and primary roads and bridges are severely flooded in the flood plain. Fencing and roads are damaged or destroyed. Low areas of Pedernales State Park downstream are severely flooded. Exceeds USGS 1:25 year flood.
- 30.0 ft Flow is within four feet of an RV park in the northeast part of Johnson City just below Highway 281 on the left bank. Lowest camp sites are at thirty four feet gauge height. Hundreds of livestock in the flood plain can be cut off and drowned. Roads and low bridges near the river flood. Low sections of Pedernales Falls State Park downstream are under turbulent water and very dangerous. Exceeds the USGS 1:50 year flood.
- 34.0 ft Flow is to the lowest trailer sites of an RV park just below Highway 281 near Johnson City. Hundreds of cattle can be cut off and drowned in the flood plain. Low areas of Pedernales Falls State Park downstream flood. Roads and bridges near the river are extremely dangerous. Flow is approaching the rodeo grounds. Near the USGS 1:100 year flood level.
- 37.0 ft Several feet of turbulent water is flowing through low areas of an RV park below Highway 281 on the right bank. Many roads and bridges in the flood plain are life threatening. Fencing and roads are damaged or destroyed. Much of Pedernales Falls State Park is flooded.
- 40.0 ft Flow reaches the slab elevation of the lowest homes in the Pedernales River flood plain near Johnson City, the rodeo grounds and the south approach of Highway 281. An RV park just below Highway 281 has up to six feet of water over the lowest sites. Widespread lowland flooding can cut off and drown hundreds of livestock. Much of Pedernales Falls State Park floods.
-
Moderate flood 17.0 ft
- 17.0 ft Moderate lowland flooding makes secondary roads, bridges and low crossings very dangerous. Swimmers and recreationists should move from the flood plain downstream in Pedernales Falls State Park. Near the USGS 1:2 year flood.
-
Minor flood 14.0 ft
- 14.0 ft Minor lowland flooding reaches secondary roads, crossings and low bridges. Low areas of LBJ National Park upstream are flooded. Swimmers and recreationists should leave the river downstream in Pedernales Falls State Park.
-
Action 13.0 ft
- 13.0 ft Low water crossings upstream flood.
- Right now 10.23 ft
Flow history at Johnson City
Daily values from USGS 08153500, updated every 15 to 60 minutes; NWS forecast for JOCT2 reissued through the day. Provisional.
Highest crests on record at Johnson City
12 on record
| Stage | Flow | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 42.50 ft | 441,000 CFS | Sep 11, 1952 |
| 33.00 ft | — | Jul 3, 1869 |
| 26.10 ft | — | Oct 4, 1959 |
| 26.10 ft | — | Aug 30, 1944 |
| 26.00 ft | 105,000 CFS | Jul 4, 2002 |
| 25.16 ft | 94,900 CFS | Jun 22, 1997 |
| 24.90 ft | 127,000 CFS | Aug 3, 1978 |
| 24.80 ft | — | Apr 24, 1957 |
| 24.58 ft | — | Jul 16, 2026 |
| 22.90 ft | — | May 28, 1929 |
Crests published by the National Weather Service.
About Pedernales River at Johnson City
The reference gauge for this reach in Texas — what local emergency managers and the National Weather Service watch when the river comes up. Pedernales Falls State Park closes on rises.
Pedernales River at Johnson City — common questions
3 questions
What is flood stage at Johnson City?
The National Weather Service sets minor flood stage at this gauge at 14.0 ft, moderate at 17.0 ft, and major at 19.0 ft. Action stage — the level at which agencies begin preparing — is 13.0 ft. The ladder on this page shows each threshold against the current reading, with the NWS's own impact statements at each level.
Is Pedernales River at Johnson City high or low for this time of year?
The USGS median flow for mid-September here is 24 CFS, from 87 years of record (1939–2026). Today is 19% of it. The comparison is what makes the raw number mean anything: the same reading is a drought on one river and a flood on another.
How often does this reading update?
USGS transmits from gauge 08153500 every 15 to 60 minutes, and the National Weather Service reissues the flood forecast for JOCT2 a few times a day — more often when the river is rising. This page refreshes from both when you open it. The timestamp is in the gauge's local time.